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The current debate on obesity pharmacotherapy is increasingly framed around a single question: which drug produces the greatest average weight loss? That question matters, but it is not always the most clinically useful one. With the arrival of second-generation anti-obesity medications, obesity care may benefit from a treat-to-target mindset, in which the aim is not simply to maximize weight reduction, but to define the amount of weight loss required to meaningfully alter a patient’s health trajectory [1].
At the same time, BMI is an imperfect surrogate for adiposity and health risk. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission on clinical obesity emphasized that BMI can both underestimate and overestimate adiposity and does not adequately define illness at the individual level [4]. Likewise, percent body fat may classify adiposity more directly than BMI in some populations [5]. <a href="https://healthylife7.com/the-best-exercise-for-your-personality-type-according-to-research/” title=”The Best Exercise for Your Personality Type, According to Research”>Accordingly, the BMI thresholds shown in Fig. 1 are intended as illustrative, pragmatic anchors rather than definitive treatment end points. The ultimate therapeutic target should be improvement in adiposity-related complications, symptoms, or functional risk.
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Authors and Affiliations
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Quirónsalud Málaga, Málaga, Spain
Rodrigo Orozco
ClÃnica Palacios Málaga, Málaga, Spain
Rodrigo Orozco, Pablo Romero & Santiago Palacios
ClÃnica Palacios AlmerÃa, AlmerÃa, Spain
Pablo Romero & Santiago Palacios
ClÃnica Palacios Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Pablo Romero & Santiago Palacios
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- Pablo RomeroView author publications
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RO conceived the manuscript, developed the conceptual framework, drafted the initial manuscript, and coordinated revisions. PR and SP contributed to conceptual development, interpretation of the literature, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript
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The authors declare that they have no known financial or personal relationships, commercial affiliations, advisory roles, stock ownership, honoraria, patent interests, or other competing interests that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this manuscript. No conflicts of interest are declared by Rodrigo Orozco, Pablo Romero, or Santiago Palacios in relation to this submission
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Orozco, R., Romero, P. & Palacios, S. From maximal weight loss to required weight loss: a call to action for weight management in gynecologic practice.
Int J Obes (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02166-4
Received:17 March 2026
Revised:11 June 2026
Accepted:05 July 2026
Published:11 July 2026
Version of record:11 July 2026
DOI
:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02166-4
